In general, all helmets and protective gear must surpass tests to be certified through different bodies depending on both the intended use and the country the helmet is sold in. Our helmets are tested for safety through three main bodies:
-
The American Society of Testing Materials, International (ASTM)
-
The European Committee for Standardization (CE EN)
-
The CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission)
Depending on the product type different tests are run. Here are some examples of the tests a Sweet Protection product goes through before you can use it:
Impact Tests
During impact tests, a series of controlled impacts are performed positioning a helmet on a metal head form and then dropping it in a guided fall onto various steel test anvils (flat, hemisphere, curbstone, edge…) which simulate different impact surfaces. The head forms are instrumented with an accelerometer to measure peak G-force acceleration which is measured in Gravitional Units (g). The impact energy (drop height and mass) or how hard the helmets are impacted is unique to each standard. In a valid test, if peak acceleration imparted to the head form exceeds certain threshold value (between 250 and 300 g’s, depending on standard and test type), the helmet is rejected.
Roll-Off Test - Positional Stability
In a roll-off test, a head form is mounted on a stand. The helmet is then placed on the head form and the straps and buckles adjusted. A wire rope is hooked to the rear edge of the helmet and it is brought forward so that its free end runs across the helmet and downward towards the floor. The free end of the rope has a mechanical stop with a 4 kg weight resting on the stop. The weight is raised to a prescribed height and dropped onto the stop. The resulting shock places a rotational load on the helmet. The helmet position may be shifted, but must not roll off the head form. Next, the head form is rotated 180 degrees, the helmet adjusted, and tested with the wire rope hooked to the front edge of the helmet and the test is repeated. As in the first case, the helmet may be shifted but must not roll off the head form.
Shell penetration test
The shell penetration test applies to our skiing helmets. The helmet is affixed to a rigid base. A 3 kg sharply pointed striker is dropped in a guided fall onto the helmet from a prescribed height. The test striker must not penetrate the helmet or even achieve momentary contact with the head form.